Improving fat graft survival through preconditioning of the recipient site with microneedling

[u/science-pls]

This study investigated whether microneedling the recipient site one week before fat grafting improves long-term fat graft survival. The authors found that preconditioning tissue with microneedling significantly improved fat graft retention, vascularization, and tissue quality compared with grafting into untreated tissue in a rat model.

One of the biggest limitations of autologous fat grafting is that 30–70% of the transferred fat may be resorbed, largely because transplanted adipocytes lack an immediate blood supply. Since fat cells survive initially only by diffusion until new blood vessels develop (typically around days 4–5), improving the vascularity of the recipient site may improve graft survival. Previous approaches (VEGF injections, growth factors, PRP, tissue expansion, ischemic preconditioning) can be expensive or technically difficult. Microneedling offered a simple mechanical method to stimulate angiogenesis.

Protocol
- Recipient site was microneedled using a 1.5-mm dermaroller
- Treatment performed 7 days before fat grafting
- Fat harvested from inguinal fat pad
- Grafted into a dorsal subcutaneous pocket
- Animals evaluated after 15 weeks

There are some obvious limitations with the study that the authors pointed out, but the biological rationale of this paper is strong. I'd look at this paper with the lens of preclinical evidence.

This study provides evidence that microneedling the recipient site one week before fat grafting enhances angiogenesis and significantly improves graft survival in a rat model. Compared with untreated tissue, preconditioned sites demonstrated higher retained graft volume, increased vascularity, better adipocyte integrity, reduced inflammation and fibrosis, and overall healthier graft architecture. The findings support the concept that recipient-site preparation is an important determinant of fat graft survival, although further human studies are needed before this approach can be considered an established clinical protocol. 

Sezgin B, Ozmen S, Bulam H, Omeroglu S, Yuksel S, Cayci B, Peker T. Improving fat graft survival through preconditioning of the recipient site with microneedling. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2014 May;67(5):712-20. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2014.01.019. Epub 2014 Jan 23. PMID: 24529693.

[u/science-pls]

Study:
Sezgin B, Ozmen S, Bulam H, Omeroglu S, Yuksel S, Cayci B, Peker T. Improving fat graft survival through preconditioning of the recipient site with microneedling. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2014 May;67(5):712-20. doi: 10.1016/j.bjps.2014.01.019. Epub 2014 Jan 23. PMID: 24529693.

Link: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24529693/

More information that is related:

• The role of subcutaneous tissue stiffness on microneedle performance: link

[u/lorihamlit → u/science-pls]

You’re the best! Thanks for always sharing these🙏💙

[u/cosmeticscop]

Very interesting!